About thirty years ago Miss Maria Ward, of Huntingdon, with only seven thousandpounds,hadthegoodlucktocaptivate Sir Thomas Bertram, of MansfieldPark,inthecountyofNorthampton,andtobetherebyraisedtothe rank of a baronet's lady, with all thecomforts and consequences of an handsome houseandlargeincome. All Huntingdon exclaimedonthegreatnessofthe match,andheruncle, the lawyer, himself, allowed her to be at least three thousandpoundsshortofanyequitableclaim to it. She had two sisters to be benefited by her elevation;and such of their acquaintance as thought Miss Ward and Miss Frances quite as handsome as Miss Maria, did not scruple to predict theirmarryingwithalmostequaladvantage. But there certainly are not so many menoflargefortuneintheworldasthereareprettywomentodeservethem. MissWard,attheendofhalf a dozen years, found herself obliged to be attached totheRev.Mr.Norris,afriend of her brother-in-law,with scarcely any private fortune,andMissFrancesfaredyetworse.Miss Ward's match, indeed, when it cametothepoint,wasnotcontemptible:SirThomasbeinghappilyabletogive hisfriendanincomeinthelivingofMansfield;andMr.andMrs.Norrisbegan theircareerofconjugalfelicitywithverylittlelessthanathousandayear.But MissFrancesmarried,inthecommonphrase,todisobligeherfamily,andby fixingonalieutenantofmarines,withouteducation,fortune, or connections, did it verythoroughly.Shecouldhardlyhave made a more untoward choice. Sir Thomas Bertram had interest, which, fromprinciple as well as pride--from a general wish of doing right, and a desire of seeing all that were connected with himinsituationsofrespectability,he would have been glad to exert for the advantageofLadyBertram'ssister;buther husband's profession was such as no interest could reach; and before he hadtime to devise any other method of assistingthem,anabsolute breach between the sisters had taken place. It was the natural result of the conduct of each party, and such as a very imprudent marriagealmostalwaysproduces.Tosave herselffromuselessremonstrance, Mrs. Price never wrote to her family on the subject till actually married. Lady Bertram,whowasawomanofverytranquil feelings, and a temper remarkably easyandindolent,wouldhavecontentedherself with merely giving up her sister, and thinking no more of the matter; but Mrs. Norris had a spirit of activity, which could not be satisfied tillshe had written a long and angry letter to Fanny, to point out the folly of her conduct, and threaten her with all its possible ill consequences.Mrs.Price,inherturn, wasinjuredandangry;andananswer, which comprehended each sister in its bitterness, and bestowed such very disrespectful reflections on the pride ofSir Thomas as Mrs. Norris could not possiblykeeptoherself,putanendtoall intercourse between them for a considerable period.

Their homes were so distant, and the circles in which they moved so distinct, as almosttoprecludethemeansofeverhearingofeachother'sexistenceduring theelevenfollowingyears,or,atleast,to makeitverywonderfultoSirThomas thatMrs.Norrisshouldeverhaveitinherpowertotellthem,asshenowand thendid,inanangryvoice,thatFannyhadgotanotherchild.Bytheendof eleven years, however, Mrs. Price could no longer afford to cherish pride or resentment,ortoloseoneconnectionthatmight possibly assist her. A large and still increasing family, an husband disabled for active service, but not the less equaltocompanyandgoodliquor,andaverysmallincometosupplytheir wants,madehereagertoregainthefriends she had so carelessly sacrificed; and she addressed Lady Bertram in a letter which spoke so much contrition and despondence, such a superfluity of children, and such a want of almost everythingelse,ascouldnotbutdispose them all to a reconciliation. She was preparing for her ninth lying-in; and after bewailing the circumstance, and imploringtheircountenanceassponsors to the expected child, she could not concealhowimportantshefelttheymightbe to the future maintenance of the eightalreadyinbeing.Hereldestwasaboyoftenyearsold,afinespirited fellow, who longed to be out in the world;but what could she do? Was there any chanceofhisbeinghereafterusefultoSir Thomas in the concerns of his West Indianproperty?Nosituationwouldbebeneathhim;orwhatdidSirThomas thinkofWoolwich?orhowcouldaboybesentouttotheEast?

The letter was not unproductive. It re-established peace and kindness. Sir Thomas sent friendly advice and professions, Lady Bertram dispatched money andbaby-linen,andMrs.Norriswrotetheletters.

Such were its immediate effects, andwithin a twelvemonth a more important advantagetoMrs.Priceresultedfromit. Mrs. Norris was often observing to the othersthatshecouldnotget her poor sister and her family out of her head, and that, much as they had all done for her, she seemed to be wanting to do more; andatlengthshecouldnotbut own it to be her wish that poor Mrs. Price should berelievedfromthechargeandexpenseofonechildentirely out of her great number."Whatiftheywere amongthemtoundertakethecareofhereldest daughter,agirlnownineyearsold,ofanage to require more attention than her poormothercouldpossiblygive?Thetroubleandexpenseofitto themwouldbe nothing,comparedwiththebenevolenceoftheaction."LadyBertramagreed with her instantly. "I think we cannot do better," said she; "let us send for the child."

SirThomascouldnotgivesoinstantaneous and unqualified a consent. He debated and hesitated;--it was a serious charge;-- a girl so brought up must be adequately provided for, or there would be cruelty instead of kindness in taking her from her family. He thought of his own four children, of his two sons, of cousinsinlove,etc.;--butnosoonerhad he deliberately begun to state his objections,thanMrs.Norrisinterruptedhimwithareplytothemall,whether statedornot.

"My dear Sir Thomas, I perfectly comprehend you, and do justice to the generosity and delicacy of your notions, which indeed are quite of a piece with your general conduct; and I entirely agree with you in the main as to the propriety ofdoingeverythingonecouldbywayofproviding for a child one had in a manner takenintoone'sownhands;andIamsureIshouldbethelastpersoninthe worldtowithholdmymiteuponsuchanoccasion. Having no children of my own, whoshouldIlooktoinanylittlematterImayeverhavetobestow,butthe childrenofmysisters?--andIamsureMr.Norrisistoojust--butyouknowIama womanoffewwordsandprofessions.Donot let us be frightened from a good deedbyatrifle.Giveagirlaneducation,andintroduceherproperlyintothe world, and ten to one but she has the means of settling well, without farther expensetoanybody.Anieceofours,SirThomas,Imaysay,oratleastof yours, wouldnotgrowupinthisneighbourhoodwithout many advantages. I don't say she would be so handsome as her cousins. I dare say she would not; but she would be introduced into the society of this country under such very favourable circumstancesas,inallhumanprobability,wouldgether a creditable establishment.Youarethinkingofyoursons--butdonotyouknow that, of all thingsuponearth,thatistheleastlikelytohappen,brought up as they would be, alwaystogetherlikebrothersandsisters?Itismorallyimpossible.Ineverknew aninstanceofit.Itis,infact,the onlysurewayofprovidingagainstthe connection. Suppose her a pretty girl, andseen by Tom or Edmund for the first timesevenyearshence,andIdaresaythere would be mischief. The very idea of herhavingbeensufferedtogrowupatadistance from us all in poverty and neglect,wouldbeenoughtomakeeitherofthedear,sweet-temperedboysin lovewithher.Butbreedherupwiththemfromthistime,andsupposehereven tohavethebeautyofanangel,andshewillneverbemoretoeitherthana sister."

"Thereisagreatdealoftruthinwhatyousay," replied Sir Thomas, "and far be it frommetothrowanyfancifulimpedimentin the way of a plan which would be so consistentwiththerelativesituationsofeach.Ionlymeanttoobservethatit ought not to be lightly engaged in, and that to make it really serviceable to Mrs. Price,andcreditabletoourselves,wemust secure to the child, or consider ourselvesengagedtosecuretoherhereafter, as circumstances may arise, the provisionofagentlewoman,ifnosuchestablishment should offer as you are so sanguine in expecting."

"Ithoroughlyunderstandyou,"criedMrs.Norris,"youareeverything that is generous and considerate, and I am sure weshall never disagree on this point. Whatever I can do, as you well know, I am always ready enough to do for the goodofthoseIlove;and,thoughIcouldneverfeel for this little girl the hundredth partoftheregardIbearyourown dear children, nor consider her, in any respect, so much my own, I should hate myself if I were capable of neglecting her. Is not sheasister'schild?andcouldIbeartoseeherwantwhileIhad a bit of bread to give her? My dear Sir Thomas, with all my faults I have a warm heart; and, poor asIam,wouldratherdenymyselfthenecessaries of life than do an ungenerous thing.So,ifyouarenot against it, I will write to my poor sister tomorrow, and maketheproposal;and,assoonasmattersaresettled, Iwill engage to get the childtoMansfield;you shall have no trouble about it. My own trouble, you know, I neverregard.IwillsendNannytoLondononpurpose,andshemayhaveabed at her cousin the saddler's, and the childbe appointed to meet her there. They mayeasilygetherfromPortsmouthtotownbythecoach,underthe care of any creditablepersonthatmaychance to be going. I dare say there is always some reputabletradesman'swifeorothergoingup."

Except to the attack on Nanny's cousin, Sir Thomas no longer made any objection,andamorerespectable,thoughlesseconomicalrendezvousbeing accordinglysubstituted,everythingwasconsidered as settled, and the pleasures ofsobenevolentaschemewerealready enjoyed. The division of gratifying sensationsoughtnot,instrictjustice,tohavebeenequal;forSirThomaswas fully resolved to be the real and consistent patron of the selected child, and Mrs. Norrishadnottheleastintention of being at any expense whatever in her maintenance.Asfaraswalking,talking, and contriving reached, she was thoroughlybenevolent,andnobodyknewbetterhow todictateliberality to others; butherloveofmoneywas equal to her love of directing, and she knew quite as well how to save her own as to spendthat of her friends. Having married on a narrower income than she had been used tolook forward to, she had, from the first, fancied a very strict line ofeconomy necessary; and what was begun as a matterofprudence,soongrewintoamatterofchoice,asanobjectofthat needfulsolicitudewhichtherewerenochildrentosupply.Hadtherebeena familytoprovidefor,Mrs.Norrismightnever have saved her money; but having nocareofthatkind,therewasnothingtoimpedeherfrugality, or lessen the comfortofmakingayearlyadditiontoanincomewhichtheyhadneverlivedup to.Underthisinfatuatingprinciple,counteractedbynorealaffectionforher sister, it was impossible for her to aim at more than the credit of projecting and arrangingsoexpensiveacharity;thoughperhaps she might so little know herself astowalkhometotheParsonage,afterthis conversation, in the happy belief of being the most liberal-minded sister and aunt in the world.

When the subject was brought forward again, her views were more fully explained;and,inreplytoLadyBertram's calm inquiry of "Where shall the child cometofirst,sister,toyouortous?"Sir Thomas heard with some surprise that it would be totally out of Mrs. Norris's power to take any share in the personal charge of her. He had been considering her as a particularly welcome addition at the Parsonage, as a desirable companion to an aunt who had no children of her own; but he found himself wholly mistaken.Mrs. Norris was sorry to say that the little girl's staying with them, at least as things then were, was quite out of the question.PoorMr.Norris'sindifferentstate of health made it an impossibility: he couldnomorebearthenoiseofachildthan he could fly; if, indeed, he should evergetwellofhisgoutycomplaints,itwould be a different matter: she should thenbegladtotakeherturn,andthinknothingoftheinconvenience;butjust now,poorMr.Norristookupeverymomentof her time, and the very mention of suchathingshewassurewoulddistracthim.

"Then she had better come to us," said Lady Bertram, with the utmost composure.AfterashortpauseSirThomasaddedwithdignity,"Yes,lether homebeinthishouse.We will endeavour to do our duty by her, and she will, at least, have the advantage of companionsof her own age, and of a regular instructress."

"Verytrue,"criedMrs.Norris,"whicharebothveryimportantconsiderations;and itwillbejustthesametoMiss Lee whether she has three girls to teach, or only two--therecanbenodifference.IonlywishI could be more useful; but you see I doallinmypower.Iamnot one of those that spare their own trouble; and Nanny shallfetchher,howeveritmayputme to inconvenience to have my chief counsellorawayforthreedays.Isuppose,sister,youwillputthechildinthelittle whiteattic,neartheoldnurseries.Itwillbemuchthebestplaceforher,sonear MissLee,andnotfarfromthegirls,andclosebythehousemaids,whocould eitherofthemhelptodressher,youknow,andtakecareofherclothes,forI supposeyouwouldnotthinkitfairtoexpectEllistowaitonheraswellasthe others.Indeed,Idonotseethatyoucould possibly place her anywhere else." LadyBertrammadenoopposition.

"Ihopeshewillproveawell-disposed girl," continued Mrs. Norris, "and be sensible of her uncommon good fortune in having such friends."

"Shouldherdispositionbereallybad,"saidSirThomas,"wemustnot,forour ownchildren'ssake,continueherinthefamily;butthereisnoreasontoexpect sogreatanevil.Weshallprobablyseemuch to wish altered in her, and must prepareourselvesforgrossignorance, some meanness of opinions, and very distressing vulgarity of manner; but these are not incurable faults; nor, I trust, can they be dangerous for her associates. Had my daughters been youngerthan herself, I should have considered the introduction of such a companion as a matterofveryseriousmoment;but,asitis,Ihopetherecanbenothingtofear forthem,andeverythingtohopefor her,fromtheassociation."

"ThatisexactlywhatIthink," cried Mrs. Norris, "and what I was saying to my husbandthismorning.Itwillbeaneducationfor the child, said I, only being with hercousins;ifMissLeetaughthernothing,shewouldlearntobegoodand cleverfrom them."

"Therewillbesomedifficultyinourway,Mrs.Norris,"observedSirThomas,"as to the distinction proper to be made between the girls as they grow up: how to preserveinthemindsofmydaughterstheconsciousnessofwhat they are, withoutmakingthemthinktoo lowly of their cousin; and how, without depressing herspiritstoofar,tomakeherrememberthatsheisnota Miss Bertram. I should wish to see them very good friends, andwould, on no account, authorize in my girlsthesmallestdegreeofarrogancetowardstheirrelation; but still they cannot be equals. Their rank, fortune, rights, and expectations will always be different. It isapointofgreatdelicacy,andyoumustassist us in our endeavours to choose exactlytherightlineofconduct."

Mrs.Norriswasquiteathisservice; and though she perfectly agreed with him as to its being a most difficult thing, encouraged him to hope that between them it would be easily managed.

It will be readily believed that Mrs. Norris did not write to her sister in vain. Mrs. Priceseemedrathersurprisedthatagirl should be fixed on, when she had so many fine boys, but accepted the offer most thankfully, assuring them of her daughter'sbeingaverywell-disposed,good-humoured girl, and trusting they wouldneverhavecausetothrowheroff. She spoke of her farther as somewhat delicate and puny, but was sanguine in thehope of her being materially better for changeofair.Poorwoman! she probably thought changeof air might agree with manyofherchildren.